Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas found himself on the hot seat during a Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee hearing on Thursday.
U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-NH, grilled the official on the importance of tracking foreign fighters, as well as strengthening information sharing within the Visa Waiver Program.
InDepthNH producer Roger Wood monitored the hearing, as the senator focused on European countries with security lapses. For his part, secretary Mayorkas defended the Visa Waiver Program as it is currently administered.
Sen. Ayotte called the sharing of information with our allies a critical piece in protecting U.S. citizens from terrorist attacks, within and without of the Visa Waiver Program. She has also written to Homeland Secretary Jeh Johnson urging him to add new countries of concern to the Visa Waiver Program.
She cited the recent terrorist attacks in France and Belgium. The Visa Waiver Program is a U.S. government program that allows citizens of specific countries to travel to the United States for tourism, business, or while in transit for up to 90 days without having to obtain a visa.
Support for InDepthNH.org, a statewide nonprofit news outlet, comes from underwriters like Northeast Delta Dental, grants and donations. For InDepthNH.org I’m Roger Wood.
